Michael W. Smith

Michael Whitaker Smith (7 October 1957-) was an American contemporary Christian musician from Kenova, West Virginia. He became a devout Christian at the age of ten and moved to Nashville in 1978 to work as a landscaper, and he began playing for local bands before becoming a gospel songwriter in 1981. From 1981 to 1989, he distinguished himself as a Christian rock musician, and he began releasing inspirational pop albums during the 1990s. Smith sold more than 15 million albums, and he came to befriend George W. Bush, singing at the 2004 Republican National Convention.